FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2021
CONTACT:
Susan Kooperstein
skooperstein@comcast.net
617.875.3619
Lee Phenner
lee.phenner@bostonabcd.org
339.368.1140
ABCD Toy Drive calls out for support to bring holiday joy to children in low-income families
Parents’ requests far outpacing donations
Children, adults also need warm clothing, food, heating aid;
Fuel Assistance available to combat high energy costs
Requests for toys from low-income, disadvantaged families in Boston and towns served in the Mystic Valley area are pouring in at an unprecedented rate to the ABCD Holiday Toy Drive. Action for Boston Community Development calls on friends and supporters to put a smile on a child’s face this holiday season – it’s needed more than ever!
Each holiday season, ABCD staff, board members, and corporate and community partners join together to collect donations of toys, clothing and gift cards. ABCD generally distributes more than 6,000 toys to children in need. To meet this year’s high demand, individual, corporate, and in-kind donations are desperately needed!
ABCD asks for new unwrapped toys for children from birth to 12 years old. To donate toys, please fill out the form at bostonabcd.org/toy-drive and someone will be in touch to arrange for drop-off and other logistics. You can also bring toys to the ABCD Dorchester Neighborhood Service Center, 110 Claybourne St., Dorchester. Toys must be received by December 15.
Monetary donations can be made by visiting bostonabcd.org/donate, calling the ABCD GIVE LINE at 617-348-6559 or emailing give@bostonabcd.org.
Keeping families warm
Those families unable to purchase toys for their children are also struggling to stay warm in their homes and outdoors and dealing with food insecurity. Donations for help with soaring heating and food costs as well as warm coats, gloves, scarves, boots and blankets/comforters are also desperately needed as frigid winter weather arrives.
Help those in need stay warm and put meals on their tables at give@bostonabcd.org or 617-348-6559. Families and seniors living in Greater Boston and needing help with heating costs can call 617-357-6012. Mystic Valley area residents can call 781-322-6284. Go to bostonabcd.org/heat for more information. First-time fuel assistance applicants can submit an online application at toapply.org/MassLIHEAP.
Additional ways that generous supporters can step up to meet the need:
- Host a party to raise money or gifts;
- Coordinate a corporate holiday wish list with a group of children from one of our neighborhood centers;
- Set up a toy collection box at your office.
Hope for the future
“This year people need help more than ever,” ABCD President/CEO John J. Drew said. “Job loss from the pandemic and soaring costs for fuel, food and other necessities have left many families struggling to survive. The lifeline of federal unemployment assistance has ended. Parents are hard-pressed to buy needed food, medicine and clothing. Holiday presents are often beyond their reach. Please help out during this season of giving. Seeing their children experience joy during the holidays gives parents hope for the future.”
The ABCD Holiday Toy Drive is part of the ABCD Winter Fund Campaign. This is a multi-faceted effort to help ensure that low-income residents in Boston and the Mystic Valley area stay safe and warm during the holiday season and throughout the bitter New England winter through fuel assistance, housing aid, provision of warm coats and clothing and more. Currently staff and volunteers at ABCD neighborhood centers are flooded with requests for help from hardworking, disadvantaged families, disabled persons, elderly residents and thousands of homeless and near-homeless people. Go to bostonabcd.org/winterfund for more information.
